Adjustable back support



Get. 11, 1938.

P. BRIGHTMAN ET'AL ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT o /z el /0- i Filed May 28, 1937 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT Paul Brightman, Oteen, and George 0. Stewart, Asheville, N. 0.; said Brightman assignor to said Stewart Application May 28, 1937, Serial No. 145,368

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a support and more especially to an adjustable back support or rest for use in therapeutic work.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a support of this character, wherein a person suffering from certain ailments whether confined to a bed or when seated in a chair will have his or her back supported so that such person will be held in a sitting upright posture necessary .to obtain comfort and with muscular relaxation so that the said person may acquire sleep when in such posture without liability of falling to either side orforwardly of the said support which would have a tendency to frighten or awaken the person.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a support of this character, wherein the same can be readily and easily adjusted to assure comfort to a patient or person when using such support and at the same time holding the person in a sitting posture with safety and comfort.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a support of this character, which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly reli- 25 able and effective in operation, susceptible of use in a bed or with a seat such as a chair or the like,

strong, durable yet light in weight for portability, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the support constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through the support showing the retaining strap fragmentarily.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the back holding section of the support.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the support constituting the present invention comprises an open base frame [0 preferably made from an angle bar of metal shaped to provide the sides I l and rear end l2, respectively, while the front end, which in the first instance is open, has a cross pivot bar l3 which at its ends is riveted or otherwise made fast to the sides II, the fastenings being indicated at M.

Swingingly connected to the pivot bar I3 is a back rest l5 preferably made from sheet metal having at its front end a forward extension IS with the foremost edge thereof curled on itself to provide a pintle sleeve I! to receive the pivot bar 5 13 so that said 'rest I5 is mounted for vertical swinging movement at its foremost end. This rest I5 is bent on itself to present at the occupying side thereof a substantially scooped formation so that there is present vertically directed side 10 areas 18- which are vertically directed in spaced relation to each other for comfortably accommodating therebetween the body of a person and the back resting and supporting therebetween by the said rest I5 when such person is in a sitting posture.

Fitted with the rest I5 is a substantially U- shaped adjustable prop l9 having the opposite side arms 20 thereof pivoted exteriorly at 2| to the sides l8 of the rest Hi. This prop I 9 is se- 20 lectively engageable in spaced notches 22 provided in the upstanding flanges 23 of the sides H of the frame Ill and such notches 22 are rearwardly angled to the plane of the said frame l0 and effecting seats for the prop IS in adjustment thereof. This prop enables the rest l5 to assume the proper forward inclination for the comfortable reclining or sitting posture of a person when his or her body occupies such rest l5.

. Formed in the sides [8 of the rest l5 are slots 24 through which is trained an adjustable and releasable retaining strap or band 25 having at one end the usual buckle 26 for the adjustment Y and the securing of the other end therein. By

the use of the strap or band 25, an occupant of the support can be strapped thereto with the back resting in the rest [5 without any liability of the body of such occupant falling from the rest to either side thereof or forwardly of the same during occupancy.

By reason of the construction of the support, the same is adaptable for use in a bed or upon a seat such as a bench,- chair or the like. The support is serviceable for patients when acquiring therapeutical treatment.

The frame H1 at the rear corners of the same has secured thereto triangular shaped corner brackets 26' to give strength and rigidity to this frame.

What is claimed is:

A support of the kind described comprising a substantially U-shaped base frame closed at one end and open at the other, upstanding flanges formed on said frame at opposite sides of the open end therein, a pivot bar bridging the open 55 end of said frame and having opposite ends fixed the said lower end, spaced inwardly of the sides thereto, the said flanges being provided with and loosely receiving the pivot bar, and a U- rearwardly inclined notches with respect to the shaped prop selectively engageable in the notches open end of the frame, a back rest having upand pivoted to the sides of said back rest.

wardly curved sides terminating short of the PAUL BRIGHTMAN. lower end thereof, and having a pintle sleeve at GEORGE C. STEWART. 

